Jarasandha: Seventeen Attacks and the Duel with Bhima

Jarasandha, king of Magadha, attacked Mathura seventeen times and was defeated each time; much later Bhima ended his life at Krishna's hint, and the imprisoned kings were set free.

Kansa's two queens, Asti and Prapti, were daughters of Jarasandha, the mighty king of Magadha. After Kansa's death they returned to their father's home in grief, and Jarasandha vowed to wipe the Yadavas from the earth. He gathered a huge army of twenty-three akshauhinis and surrounded Mathura.

Krishna saw that this was an opportunity to lighten the burden of the earth, for many proud and unrighteous kings had joined Jarasandha. Chariots and weapons descended from the heavens for Krishna and Balarama, and the two brothers went out with a small force and destroyed that vast army. Balarama caught Jarasandha and was about to kill him, but Krishna stopped him. If Jarasandha went home alive, he would return again and again with fresh armies of wicked rulers, and those too would be destroyed.

So it happened. Seventeen times Jarasandha marched on Mathura, and seventeen times his army was destroyed while he was sent home in shame. Krishna showed great restraint, bearing the trouble patiently for a larger purpose. Before the eighteenth attack, when Kalayavana also came to besiege the city, Krishna moved his people to Dwarka, a story told elsewhere.

Many years later, Yudhishthira wished to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. Krishna explained that this was impossible while Jarasandha lived, for he had imprisoned thousands of kings in Girivraja and planned to sacrifice them. Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna went to Magadha disguised as Brahmins. Jarasandha was known for never refusing a Brahmin's request, so they asked him for a duel. Recognising them, he scornfully refused to fight Krishna and Arjuna and chose Bhima, who was his equal in strength.

The two wrestled with maces and bare hands for many days, but neither could overcome the other. Krishna knew the secret of Jarasandha's birth. He had been born in two halves, which a rakshasi named Jara had joined together, and so he got his name. Krishna picked up a twig, split it in two and threw the halves in opposite directions. Bhima understood. He pinned Jarasandha down, held one leg with his foot, seized the other and tore his body apart from head to foot.

Krishna freed the imprisoned kings, who praised him with gratitude, and crowned Jarasandha's son Sahadeva as king of Magadha. The way was now clear for the Rajasuya.

This leela teaches that the Lord's patience is never weakness. He waits for the right time, and adharma, however strong, cannot stand forever.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 50 and 72; Mahabharata, Sabha Parva

Place

Mathura – Girivraja (Magadha)

Lesson

The Lord's patience is not weakness; adharma cannot stand forever.